Penny Spelling Game

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Spice up your normal spelling practice this President's Day by playing the Abraham Lincoln Penny Spelling game! Remember our past presidents by spelling out their names and other president- and US-related words. How many can you think of? This activity also provides a perfect springboard for discussing US history and the English language with your child.

What You Need:

50 or more pennies

What You Do:

Have your child arrange the pennies in the shape of letters and spell out words. Practice vocabulary words, spelling words, or (best of all) words related to President's Day like "Abe", "red", “blue", or “USA” with your child.

Turn the spelling game into a quick history lesson by pausing a moment to look at one of the pennies with your child. Show her the president on the face side and the memorial on the other side of the penny. Ask your child what year the penny was made. What else does it say?

You can also expand this activity into an English lesson by discussing phrases and idioms in the English language that use the word “penny". Example phrases include “a pretty penny,” “a penny saved is a penny earned,” “without two pennies to rub together,” “a penny for your thoughts,” “a penny to my name,” and “penny wise and pound foolish.” Has your child heard these phrases before? What do they mean?